The state’s COVID Relief Fund for the Arts grant program will help two local nonprofit arts organizations, the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton with a $125,900 award and the Community Music School in Centerbrook with a $19,900 award.

The state recently announced recipients of the program, which uses federal CARES Act funding from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. The Ivoryton Playhouse and the Community Music School are two of 154 organizations throughout Connecticut receiving funds. A total of $9 million will be distributed.

The grant program aims to help the state’s arts organizations that were impacted with at least a 20 percent loss in earned income from March to November 2020, when compared with the prior year. Organizations were also required to show a financial need that could not be easily overcome without the relief funds.

A base grant of $5,000 was given to all qualifying organizations. Organizations that raised funds between March 10 and Nov. 1 were offered a match of up to 50 percent of contributed income during that period.

Award funds can be used for a variety of expenses including payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities, and the costs associated with complying with the state’s reopening rules, among others.

Community Music School

“We appreciate the assistance and support because even though we are fortunate to be able to operate in some way, it’s not in a way that could sustain our operations,” said Community Music School Executive Director Richard “Rick” Wyman.

Many of the school’s classes and programs are not occurring, with operations that are “scaled back,” he added.

“For us, the biggest challenge was during the summer…We had musical theater camps that all had to be canceled,” he said. “That represented an impact on our tuition and there was a reduction in people taking lessons.”

Since September, however, the school has offered in-person and virtual lessons in accordance with the State of Connecticut and guidance from the Essex Health Department.

As one of the few music schools in the area offering in-person instruction, Wyman said, “We really spent a lot of effort and money to make sure that we were setting up in a very safe way to offer these in-person lessons.”

In addition to requiring masks, increased cleaning, and appropriate social distancing, the building is operating in a reduced capacity and the waiting room is closed, among other protocols.

Two of the school’s ensembles, the New Horizons Band and the String Ensemble, have been rehearsing at the Centerbrook Meetinghouse since September.

“The Centerbrook Meetinghouse was very generous to allow us to use a large room there,” said Wyman, adding that an aerosol study from the International Performing Arts coalition informs their practices, especially as it relates to air ventilation and filtration.

The school was able to raise funds, as required by the state grant program, from March to November though its annual spring appeal. Other sources, such as a new sponsorship program, helped the school raise a grand total of $30,000 in donations in this time period.

Wyman said that “payroll and keeping regular operations going” for the Centerbrook location along with rental expenses for the East Lyme studio will be a focus of the state grant funds.

Ivoryton Playhouse

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ivoryton Playhouse’s 2020 season was canceled, which had only happened once before, during World War II.

Without the ability to bring in an income from ticket sales or programs, the playhouse reached out to its community of supporters for help.

“In March, when we shut down, we realized very quickly that we were not going to be opening up, and we did a very simple, little fundraising drive with a T-shirt,” said Ivoryton Playhouse Executive Artistic Director Jacqui Hubbard.

The blue T-shirts are inscribed with “I Helped Keep Ivoryton Playhouse Afloat in 2020” with the playhouse’s emblematic elephant standing in a boat.

Although money was raised this way, Hubbard said that it is the combination of a 2021 membership drive and a two-week fundraising appeal, along with the state’s grant, that will help to ensure the longevity of the playhouse.

In total, the playhouse received $591,800 in donations from March to November, with $208,000 being from the two-week appeal.

Hubbard described the support as “mind-blowing,” adding “we actually managed to have an amazing year fundraising, which has kept us going…It speaks volumes of the amazing people of our area.”

To document the outpouring of love and financial support for the playhouse, Hubbard collaborated with Cully Long, a longtime associate of the playhouse and illustrator, to publish the book Ella Capella and the Pink Umbrella.

Taking inspiration from the design of the elephant on the fundraising T-shirt sold earlier this year, Hubbard, who authored the children’s book, said writing the story, which is a “metaphor for what has happened” with the playhouse, was “cathartic.”

“The book celebrates a community that comes together to save Ella the Elephant and make sure she always has a place to sing and dance and tell her stories,” according to a press release from the playhouse.

Hubbard said planning is underway for a 2021 season opening in March that will incorporate all of the safety protocols and reopening guidance from the state.

In the meantime, the theater has started a unique community story project, “A Christmas Quilt of Memories” in which a 12-square quilt will be made from stories shared by community members.

The quilt, said Hubbard, is a way “to share and connect with our audience” during the pandemic.